System and method for posture correcting

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates a system and method for posture correcting, which will provide intuitive correction information so that a user can correct a posture when exercising golf swing. The posture correcting system photographs successive sports swing postures of a user to form swing image data, forms a swing image for a specific posture of the user by using the swing image data, stores a reference swing image corresponding to the swing image, compares the swing image with the reference swing image to produce a correction image showing whether the swing image is in agreement with the reference swing image, and displays the correction image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a posture correcting system, more particularly to a system and method for posture correcting, which provides intuitive correction information so that a user may correct a posture when exercising golf swing.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, the target of golf exercise is to fly a golf ball accurately to a desired distance and direction by moving a head of a golf club along a certain trajectory. For right golf exercise, a series of postures (back swing—down swing—impact—finish) are very important for the golf swing.

In other words, a posture is important in golf more than any other sport. The components of the posture include a swing angle and trajectory, a swing duration and rhythm, the weight shift in swing, and so on. Hence, the target of golf exercise is to repeat such components and thus reproduce an ideal posture identically at any time, when required.

However, most golf swing exercisers simply photograph a swing posture of a user and then provide the user with only numerical information about absolute locations and directions of body parts, relative distances and angles between body parts.

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

This disclosure is directed to supplying a method and system for posture correcting, which provides intuitive correction information to correct a sports swing posture.

[Solution to Problem]

In one general aspect, a posture correcting system is provided, which includes a Photographing unit for photographing successive sports swing postures of a user and forming swing image data; a Swing image forming unit for forming a swing image for a specific posture of the user by using the swing image data; a Storing unit for storing a reference swing image corresponding to the swing image; a Processor for comparing the swing image with the reference swing image and forming a correction image showing whether the swing image is in agreement with the reference swing image; and an Output unit for displaying the correction image.

In another general aspect, there is provided a posture correcting method, which includes photographing successive sports swing postures of a user and forming swing image data; forming a swing image for a specific posture of the user by using the swing image data; storing a reference swing image corresponding to the swing image; comparing the swing image with the reference swing image and forming a correction image showing whether the swing image is in agreement with the reference swing image; and displaying the correction image.

[Advantageous Effects]

This disclosure allows a user to easily correct a posture by intuitively recognizing a relationship between his/her current posture and a preferred posture. The correction of a posture may be obtained using visceral information such as shapes and colors without depending on quantitative information such as numbers or graphs. Therefore, the repulsion of a user can be minimized in comparison to a posture correcting method based on numerical methods, and the user can achieve more effective correct postures.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages of the disclosed exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a block diagram showing a posture correcting system according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the change of a correction image according to an embodiment of this disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a mesh, a normal vector, and a viewing vector according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ELEMENTS

110: Photographing unit 120: Swing image forming unit 130: Storing unit 140: Processor 150: Output unit

[Best Mode]

Exemplary embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with a reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown.

This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessary obscuring of the presented embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a posture correcting system according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The posture correcting system according to this disclosure can be applied to exercises for correcting a swing posture, among various kinds of sports such as golf, baseball and the like.

The following description will be based on the golf sport for convenience purpose. However, this disclosure is not limited to the golf but can be applied to all sports of similar kind which require swing.

Referring to FIG. 1, the posture correcting system 100 includes a Photographing unit 110, a Swing image forming unit 120, a Storing unit 130, a Processor 140 and an Output unit 150.

The Photographing unit 110 photographs successive golf swing postures of a user to form swing image data. For example, the Photographing unit 110 can include a camera, which may extract swing image data of a specific posture preset or requested by a user, while photographing a moving picture of golf swing postures of the user. In addition, plurality of cameras can be incorporated in the Photographing unit 110 to form multi-view swing image data obtained by photographing a specific posture of a user from various directions. For example, the multi-view swing image data can have a Front swing image data which forms a swing image observed from a front location of the user, Side swing image data which forms a swing image observed from a side location, Vertical swing image data which forms a swing image observed from an upper or lower location, and User-Designated swing image data which forms a swing image observed from a certain location designated by the user.

The Swing image forming unit 120 creates a swing image of a specific posture preset or posture selected by a user's request, amongst a series of golf swing postures, by using the swing image data provided from the Photographing unit 110. For instance, the Swing image forming unit 120 may form swing images for Back swing posture, Down swing posture, Impact swing posture and Finish swing posture, among a series of golf swing postures of a user by using the swing image data. Also, the Swing image forming unit 120 can form multi-view swing images for any specific posture observed from various directions by using the multi-view swing image data. For example, the multi-view swing image can include Front swing image showing a swing image observed from a front location of the user, Side swing image showing a swing image observed from a side location, a Vertical swing image showing a swing image observed from an upper or lower location, and User-Designated swing image showing a swing image observed in a certain direction selected by the user. This Swing image forming unit 120 could render the swing image data formed by the Photographing unit 110 at a viewing point of certain distance to form each swing image.

The Storing unit 130, on the other hand, stores a reference swing image set for the many golf swing postures which require correction. For instance, the Storing unit 130 stores reference swing images for specific postures such as Back swing posture, Down swing posture, Impact swing posture and Finish swing posture corresponding to the swing image formed by the Swing image forming unit 120. Similarly, the Storing unit 130 stores reference swing images for Front swing posture, Side swing posture, Vertical swing posture and User-Designated swing posture corresponding to the multi-view swing images formed by the Swing image forming unit 120. Since there is no absolute criterion for preferred swing postures, the Storing unit 130 stores a plurality of reference swing image sets so that the user can select a preferred reference swing image set. Moreover, the Storing unit 130 can also make multi-view reference swing images for Front reference swing image, Side reference swing image, Vertical reference swing image and User-Designated reference swing image corresponding to the multi-view swing images formed by the Swing image forming unit 120.

A number of mesh data structures can be contained within in the reference swing images stored in the Storing unit 130. These mesh data structure express a three-dimensional structure by using a group of triangular meshes, by means of the technologies in the three-dimensional display fields.

The Processor 140 formulates correction images showing whether the swing image for a posture of the user is in agreement with the reference swing image. It can achieve this by:

i) Utilizing the swing images formed by the Swing image forming unit 120, and

ii) Utilizing the reference swing image presets either by including the user-selected reference swing set, among the reference swing image sets included in the Storing unit 130.

The Processor 140 controls the screen region of the Output unit 150 to be divided as much as the number of formed correction images. Furthermore, the Processor 140 will give a feedback to the user through tactile vibration in the case where the swing image for a posture of the user is not in agreement with the reference swing image, specifically by mentioning where the agreement ratio of the swing image to the reference image is lower than a preset level. For example, when the agreement ratio of the swing image to the reference swing image is lower than a predetermined level, the Processor 140 forces a feedback means, realized in a vest style worn by the user, through vibration so that the user can easily recognize that his/her current posture is incorrect.

The Processor 140 forms a correction image according to two embodiments as follows.

First Embodiment

The Processor 140 marks the region where the reference swing image provided from the Storing unit 130 overlaps with the swing image formed by the Swing image forming unit 120 and the region where it does not, with different colors to form the correction image. For instance, the Processor 140 will compare the reference swing image provided from the Storing unit 130 with the swing image formed by the Swing image forming unit 120 and then mark the overlapping region with blue color and the non-overlapping region with red color to make the correction image.

The Processor 140 can also compare a swing image for a specific posture such as Back swing posture, Down swing posture, Impact posture and Finish swing posture of the user with the reference swing image stored in the Storing unit 130, and then form the correction image for the specific posture where the overlapping region and the non-overlapping region being marked with different colors.

Besides, the Processor 140 can compare the multi-view swing image for Front swing posture, Side swing posture, Vertical swing posture or User-Designated swing posture of the user with the reference swing image stored in the corresponding Storing unit 130 and then form the multi-view correction image for the specific posture where the overlapping region and the non-overlapping region are marked with different colors.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the change of the correction image according to an embodiment of this disclosure. If the posture of the user is not in agreement with the reference swing image (B), a feedback will be provided to the user by using a tactile vibration. However, if the user corrects the posture to be in agreement with the reference swing image over a certain level, the tactile vibration will not be generated any more.

Second Embodiment

The Processor 140 can perform a visibility test as in Math Formula 1 below to the reference swing image stored in the Storing unit 130 so as to form a correction image while marking the meshes of the reference swing image with different colors according to the result of the visibility test.

Math Formula 1

n·V>O

In the Math Formula 1, “n”?represents a normal vector which represents a normal direction of each mesh in the reference swing image, and “V” represents a viewing vector which means the direction of a viewing point used in rendering for forming each swing image corresponding to the reference swing image. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the mesh, the normal vector and the viewing vector according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

As an example, the Processor 140 may mark the mesh of the reference swing image which passes the visibility test with blue color and mark the mesh of the reference swing image which does not pass the visibility test with red color to form a correction image. It can also perform the visibility test to the reference swing image for a specific posture such as Back swing posture, Down swing posture, Impact swing posture and Finish swing posture of the user and form a correction image where different colors are marked in the meshes according to the result of the visibility test. Similarly, the Processor 140 can perform the visibility test to the multi-view reference swing image for Front swing posture, Side swing posture, Vertical swing posture and User-Designated swing posture of the user and form a correction image where different colors are marked in the meshes according to the result of the visibility test.

Finally, the Output unit 150 displays the correction image formed by the Processor 140. For example, the Output unit 150 can divide the screen region of the Output unit according to the number of correction images formed by the Processor 140, and display a plurality of correction images in the divided screen regions. However, the correction image display of the Output unit 150 is not limited thereto. The Output unit 150 includes a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and so on.

While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. In addition, many modifications could be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof.

Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure not be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that this disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A posture correcting system, comprising: a photographing unit for photographing successive sports swing postures of a user and forming swing image data; a swing image forming unit for forming a swing image for a specific posture of the user by using the swing image data; a storing unit for storing a reference swing image corresponding to the swing image; a processor for comparing the swing image with the reference swing image and forming a correction image showing whether the swing image is in agreement with the reference swing image; and an output unit for displaying the correction image.
 2. The posture correcting system according to claim 1, wherein the sport is golf.
 3. The posture correcting system according to claim 2, wherein the photographing unit is capable of extracting swing image data of a specific posture preset or that of requested by a user while photographing a moving picture of a golf swing posture of the user.
 4. The posture correcting system according to claim 3, wherein the specific posture includes a back swing posture, down swing posture, impact swing posture and a finish swing posture.
 5. The posture correcting system according to claim 4, wherein the photographing unit includes a plurality of cameras to form multi-view swing image data obtained by photographing the specific posture from various directions.
 6. The posture correcting system according to claim 5, wherein the multi-view swing image data includes front swing image data for forming a swing image observed from a front location of the user, side swing image data for forming a swing image observed from a side location of the user, vertical swing image data for forming a swing image observed from an upper or lower location of the user, and user-designated swing image data for forming a swing image observed from a location picked by the user.
 7. The posture correcting system according to claim 6, wherein the swing image forming unit forms swing images for a back swing posture, down swing posture, impact swing posture and a finish swing posture, among a series of golf swing postures of the user by using the swing image data.
 8. The posture correcting system according to claim 7, wherein the swing image forming unit forms multi-view swing images including a front swing image showing a swing image observed from a front location of the user, side swing image showing a swing image observed from a side location of the user, vertical swing image showing a swing image observed from an upper or lower location of the user, and a user-designated swing image showing a swing image perceived from a location designated by the user, by way of using the multi-view swing image data.
 9. The posture correcting system according to claim 8, wherein the storing unit stores a reference swing image set for a plurality of golf swing postures which require correction, in correspondence with the swing image and the multi-view swing image.
 10. The posture correcting system according to claim 9, wherein the reference swing image set includes reference swing images for specific postures including the back swing posture, down swing posture, impact swing posture and finish swing posture as well as multi-view reference swing images corresponding to the multi-view swing images.
 11. The posture correcting system according to claim 10, wherein the processor forms the correction image by comparing the reference swing image provided from the Storing unit with the swing image formed by the Swing image forming unit and marking a region where the reference swing image overlaps with the swing image and a region where the reference swing image does not overlap with the swing image with different colors.
 12. The posture correcting system according to claim 10, wherein the processor forms the correction image by performing a visibility test for determining a location relationship between the reference swing image and the swing image there by marking meshes included in the reference swing image with different colors according to the result of the visibility test.
 13. The posture correcting system according to claim 12, wherein the result of the visibility test is obtained according to a vector product of a normal vector representing a normal direction of the mesh, and a viewing vector representing the direction of a viewing point used in rendering for forming the swing image.
 14. A posture correcting method, comprising: photographing successive sports swing postures of a user and forming swing image data; forming a swing image for a specific posture of the user by using the swing image data; storing a reference swing image corresponding to the swing image; comparing the swing image with the reference swing image and forming a correction image showing whether the swing image is in agreement with the reference swing image; and displaying the correction image.
 15. The posture correcting method according to claim 14, wherein the sport is golf.
 16. The posture correcting method according to claim 15, wherein the photographing of successive sports swing postures is executed using a camera capable of extracting swing image data of a specific posture preset or requested by a user while a moving picture of a golf swing posture of the user is photographed.
 17. The posture correcting method according to claim 16, wherein the specific posture includes a back swing posture, down swing posture, impact swing posture and a finish swing posture.
 18. The posture correcting method according to claim 17, wherein the photographing of successive sports swing postures further includes forming multi-view swing image data obtained by photographing the specific posture in various directions.
 19. The posture correcting method according to claim 18, wherein the multi-view swing image data contains front swing image data for forming a swing image observed from a front location of the user, side swing image data for forming a swing image observed from a side location of the user, vertical swing image data for forming a swing image observed from an upper or lower location of the user, and user-designated swing image data for forming a swing image observed from a location designated by the user.
 20. The posture correcting method according to claim 19, wherein the formation of a swing image includes forming swing images for a back swing posture, down swing posture, impact swing posture and a finish swing posture, among a series of golf swing postures of the user by using the swing image data.
 21. The posture correcting method according to claim 20, wherein the formation of a swing image further includes forming multi-view swing images including a front swing image showing a swing image observed from a front location of the user, side swing image showing a swing image observed from a side location of the user, vertical swing image showing a swing image observed from an upper or lower location of the user, and a user-designated swing image showing a swing image observed from a location designated by the user, by using the multi-view swing image data.
 22. The posture correcting method according to claim 21, wherein the storing of a reference swing image includes storing a reference swing image set for a number of golf swing postures which require correction, in correspondence with the swing image and the multi-view swing image.
 23. The posture correcting method according to claim 22, wherein the reference swing image set contains reference swing images for specific postures including the back swing posture, down swing posture, impact swing posture and the finish swing posture and also the multi-view reference swing images corresponding to the multi-view swing images.
 24. The posture correcting method according to claim 23, wherein forming of a correction image includes forming the correction image by comparing the reference swing image provided from the storing unit with the swing image formed by the swing image forming unit and marking a region where the reference swing image overlaps with the swing image and a region where the reference swing image does not overlap with the swing image with different colors.
 25. The posture correcting method according to claim 23, wherein the formation of a correction image includes making the correction image by performing a visibility test for determining a location relationship between the reference swing image and the swing image, also marking meshes encompassed in the reference swing image with different colors according to the result of the visibility test.
 26. The posture correcting method according to claim 25, wherein the result of the visibility test is obtained according to a vector product of a normal vector representing a normal direction of the mesh and a viewing vector representing a direction of a viewing point used in rendering for forming the swing image. 